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Stockbridge, Mass.
Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health Annex
Until this summer, accommodations at this 100-plus-acre Berkshires retreat consisted mostly of no-frills dormitories with wood bunk beds and shared baths. But in June, the resort unveiled an 80-room sustainably designed addition incorporating cypress slats harvested from downed trees and a radiant heating and cooling system. The simple but comfortable rooms all have cheerful touches (like Marimekko accent pillows on the beds) and large windows framing mountain or lake views, as well as private bathrooms with deep soaking tubs—perfect for soothing soreness after a day of crane-pose contortions in the 2,800-square-foot group program space. 800/741-7353, kripalu.org, from $263 per person including all meals, yoga, and use of all fitness facilities; two-night minimum. —Jane Margolies
London
Bermondsey Square Hotel
This 79-room boutique hotel about half a mile south of Tower Bridge channels the swinging 1960s with its mod monochromatic color schemes, tufted leather headboards, and "free martini with manicure" policy at the on-site spa. In the lobby, Alfie's Kitchen whips up decadent treats like toffee apple trifle. Bonus: The four top-floor suites can be converted into one huge party spot with an eight-person outdoor hot tub and an extra-long patio facing the London Eye. 011-44/870-111-2525, bermondseysquarehotel.co.uk, from $165. —Amy Chen
Phoenix
Ocatilla at Arizona Biltmore
Frank Lloyd Wright consulted on the design of this desert resort some 80 years ago, and his influence is still apparent in the geometric concrete-block architecture and mission-style furnishings; Ocatilla, the renovated 120-room wing at the center of the resort, even takes its name from a retreat Wright dreamed of one day building. Staying here costs a bit more than in a standard Biltmore room, but you have access to VIP perks like a private swimming pool, an optional "turndown bath" sprinkled with sea salts, and free glasses of wine and 10-minute chair massages in the lobby most nights (starting at 5 p.m.). Of course, the main resort's amenities—seven tennis courts, 39 acres of gardens, and two 18-hole golf courses, to start—are yours to enjoy as well. 800/950-0086, arizonabiltmore.com, from $179. —AC
Solvang, Calif.
Hotel Corque
Ever since the 2004 film Sideways put the Santa Ynez wine region on the big screen, the area has become a true hotspot—and finding affordable places to stay has turned into a real challenge. This 122-room hotel, the result of a complete two-year overhaul of the old Royal Scandinavian Inn, fills the void. Most rooms have balconies overlooking Old Mission Santa Inés or the Santa Ynez mountains, and the decor takes a cue from nature, with wood-block side tables and leaf-patterned throw pillows. But it's not all about looking rustic: iPod docking stations and 42-inch flat-screen TVs provide modern creature comforts. 800/624-5572, hotelcorque.com, from $199 including breakfast. —AC
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